The three-day event, kindly hosted by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, comprises of a one-day travel trade mart and one-day conference that brings together public and private sector tourism professionals involved in adventure travel and responsible tourism.

“The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart has enjoyed outstanding success in recent years in Thimphu, Bhutan; Chiang Rai, Thailand; Luoyang, China, and Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE and we are now delighted to have the opportunity for the first time to focus upon the many opportunities for adventure travel and responsible tourism in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India”, said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “This event provides an exceptional platform for travel trade professionals to learn much more about this captivating destination, gain deeper insights into adventure travel trends, and contribute to creating a more responsible travel and tourism industry.”

Nestled amidst lush greeneries guarded by the breathtaking hills of northern Uttarakhand, the tranquil city of Rishikesh is oft­en claimed as the `Yoga Capital of the World’. It gained instant fame when The Beatles came to stay with their guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in the 1960’s. Boasting marvellous temples, pilgrimage sites and the magnificent Ganges River, every corner of this legendary place has stories to be told. But Rishikesh is not all spirituality and yoga.

Today, the city attracts tourists from all over the world for its numerous adventure sports such as white-water raft­ing, cliff-jumping, kayaking and camping. Known as the ‘Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas’, Rishikesh is also a designated starting point for treks to numerous Himalayan pilgrimage centres and shrines.

Watersports fans can enjoy raft­ing down the Ganges River amid the rocky mountains and natural wood surroundings. Thrill-seekers can choose to dive off a cliff from a dizzying height of 35 feet­ or face the superb rapids of the Ganges on a kayak. Meanwhile, waterfall trekking offers a gentler opportunity to get close to nature while being accessible to people of all age groups – perfect as a family activity. Explore the destination where excitement meets tranquillity within the backdrop of tall mountains, amidst the gushing sound of crystal clear waters. This is Rishikesh – land of gods, adventure, and peace.

The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart is an annual event that offers a platform for sellers and buyers involved in the world of adventure travel and responsible tourism to secure new business and to consolidate existing contracting relationships via PATA’s well-proven system of pre-matched appointments. It is an excellent opportunity to create new experiences and to share new opportunities with global tourism professionals.

Early bird discounts are available for all registration fees until October 31, 2018, while special rates are available for Uttarakhand delegates.

Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 98 government, state and city tourism bodies, 19 international airlines and airports, 91 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism our 36 Chapters and 20 Student Chapters across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 20 PATA student chapters globally. The chapters and student chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London. Visit www.PATA.org.